Council passes security enhancements

The Crescent City Council has approved a $48,260 contract with Hi-Tech Security to install surveillance cameras, alarms and smoke detectors at the wastewater treatment plant and at a handful of water system facilities.

The project will include installing alarms, video surveillance and smoke detectors at the Ranney collector and control building in Smith River, as well as water storage tanks on Burtschell and Amador streets. The project will also provide access control, video surveillance and intrusion alarms at the chlorination building on Rellim Road and the wastewater treatment plant on Battery Street.

The total cost of the security project is estimated at $55,000, according to the city’s staff report. These costs include the $48,260 contract as well as $6,740 for parts, materials and labor. The cost of operating the security system is expected to be about $397 a month, according to city staff.

Funding for roughly half the cost of the project, $25,791, will come from an Emergency Management Performance Grant, according to the city’s staff report.

The city match for the grant, $29,209, was approved in the 2012–13 budget, said City Manager Eugene Palazzo. The monthly operation costs will be included in future budgets, he said.

“This project probably won’t get implemented starting until next budget year,” Palazzo said, responding to questions e-mailed to city staff and Council members from former Councilwoman Donna Westfall. “Yes rate payers are the primary revenue source for both the sewer and water enterprise funds. This security project is vital to ensure the safety and ongoing reliability of city’s most critical water and wastewater facilities.”

In other matters, the Council approved the appointments of cosmetologist Doris Word, Joan Buhler (representative of Light House Repertory Theatre) and Cheryl Corpstein of Edward Jones Investments to the Business Improvement District Advisory Board.

Word will fill a vacancy left by accountant Samuel Rutledge, according to city staff. Buhler and Corpstein have been reappointed to new terms that will expire in March 2016.

Reach Jessica Cejnar at
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